Cooler construction



May 4, 1943. J. $.PALMER COOLER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 18, 1940 25 za j (27 J JhIZjUZlZOZ Patented May 4, 1943 COOLER CONSTRUCTION John S. Palmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 18, 1940, Serial No. 324,570

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a cooler construction. More specifically it relates to a cooler construction composed of an outer and an inner tank held by brackets within the outer tank.

A cooler construction in which an outer tank contains a refrigerant and an inner tank positioned within the outer tank requires some means for holding the inner tank within the outer tank against the buoyant force of the refrigerant.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cooler construction.

A further object is the provision of a cooler construction by which an inner tank is held within an outer tank containing refrigerant, against the buoyant force of the refrigerant.

According to the present invention an inner tank positioned Within an outer tank containing a refrigerant, has outwardly extending edges which are engaged by brackets secured to the outer tank for holding the inner tank within the outer tank against the buoyant force of the refrigerant.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a section taken through the novel cooler construction;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the cooler construction;

Figures 3 and 4 are detail views of brackets used with the cooler construction; and,

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of another bracket used with the cooler construction.

The cooler construction of the present invention comprises an outer tank It containing a heat insulating filler H, an inner tank l2, and

a set of cooling coils l3. A refrigerant l5 occu- I pies the space between the inner and outer tanks. A cover !6 is attached to the outer tank Ill.

The inner tank 12 has an outwardly extending flange H which is engaged at one side by a pair of brackets 18. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, each bracket l3 comprises spaced body portions 19. base portions 2!! having openings 2|, and a notch 22 at the junction of the body portions 19. Bolts 23 passing through the openings 2| in the base portions 20 secure the brackets H! to the inside of the tank Ill. The one side of the flange I! of the inner tank l2 fits Within the notch 22 in the brackets l8.

A single bracket 24 engages the other side of the flange ll. As seen in Figures 5 and 6, this bracket is composed of a base member 25, a tubular member 26, secured to the base member and having an elongated slot 21, and a pin 28 fitting within the tubular member 26 and carrying a projection 29 extending out through the elongated slot 21. A spring 30 fits within the tubular member 26 and occupies the space between the base member 25 and the pin 28. The pin 28 has an extension lip 31! and a notch 3| which engages the flange l1, Bolts 32 passing through the base portion 25 secure the bracket 24 to the inside of the tank 10.

It will be seen from Figure 1 that the brackets l8 at one side, and the brackets 24 at the other, by engaging the outwardly extending flanges I! on the inner tank [2 hold the inner tank within the outer tank l0 against the buoyant force of the refrigerant l5. When it is desired to remove the inner tank from the outer tank, the bracket 24 is released from engagement with the flange I! by a movement of the pin 28 away from the flange by application of force to the projection 29 in a direction away from the tank [2. The

inner tank is then removed. When the inner tank is again to be placed within the outer tank, the pin 28 is again displaced away from the tank l2, the inner tank is put in position and. the pin 28, urged by the spring 30, is allowed to reengage the flange l1. It is to be noted that the pin 28 has a slanting lip 33 adjacent the notch 3|. By virtue of this slanting lip, it is possible to secure the tank l2 in position by downward pressure of the flange l1 against the surface 33. Because the surface is slanting, downward pressure upon it may cause sufioient longitudinal displacement of the pin 28 so that the notch 3| can engage the flange l1,

The bracket l8 and the extension lip 33' on the bracket 29 support the inner tank l2 when there is no fluid in the outer tank 10 or when the tank [2 is loaded sufficiently to overcome the buoyant force of the fluid. Since the lip 30' extends beyond the lip 33, the tank l2 will still rest on the lip 38' when the pin is moved away to permit removal of the tank.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that novel cooler construction has been provided which construction includes brackets for holding the inner tank within an outer tank against the buoyant force of the refrigerant contained in the outer tank. One of the brackets is releasable so that the inner tank may be easily moved. The intention is to limit the invention only within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a first container adapted to contain a refrigerant, a second container positioned within the first container and adapted to contain articles to be refrigerated, said second container having outwardly extending edges, a first bracket secured to the inside of the first container and having a notch receiving the edge of one side of the second container. and a second bracket comprising a first member having a notch in one end engaging the edge of the other side of the second container and also having a projection extending from one side, a second member secured to the inside of the first container, containing the first member, and having an elongated slot through which the projection of the first member extends, and a spring acting between the second member and the end of the first member opposite the end having the notch.

2. In combination, a first container adapted to contain a refrigerant, a second container positioned within the first container and adapted to contain articles to be refrigerated, a first bracket secured to the inside of the first container and engaging one side of the second container and a second bracket comprising a first member having one end engaging the opposite side of the second container and having a projection extending from one side for controlling the first member to determine engagement with the second container, a second member secured to the first container, containing the first member, and having an opening through which the projection of the first member extends, and a spring acting between the second member and the end of the first member opposite the end engaging the second container.

3. In combination, a first container adapted to contain a refrigerant, a second container positioned within the first container and adapted to contain articles to be refrigerated, said second container having outwardly extending edges, 2.

first bracket secured to the inside of the first container and having a notch receiving the edge of one side of the second container and a second bracket comprising a first member having a notch engaging the edge of the other side of the second container and an extension lip below the notch extending beyond the notch, a second member containing the first member and secured to the inside of the first container, and a spring acting between the first and second members to urge the first member against the said edge of the said other side of the second container, the extension lip serving to prevent the dropping 0f the edge of the second container below the notch in the event of retraction of the first member.

JOHN S. PALMER. 

